Children’s Charities in Crisis

In the media

Following a decade of radical change in policy and funding in children’s early intervention services and with the role of the third sector under increased scrutiny, this timely book assesses the shifting interplay between state provision and voluntary organisations delivering intervention for children, young people and their families.

Using 100 voices from the frontline, it provides vivid accounts of the lived experiences of charitable groups and offers crucial insights into the impact of recent social policy decisions on their work.

Telling the story of how the landscape of children’s early intervention services has changed over the last decade, the author highlights important lessons for future policy while demonstrating the immeasurable value of voluntary organisations working in this challenging terrain.

"Anyone seeking to understand the complex relationships between children’s charities and state services, why current approaches are failing children, and possible alternatives, will find this book invaluable. It achieves admirable breadth and depth, exploring experiences across diverse services from early intervention to education, illustrated through multiple voices - frontline workers, children and state actors." Linda Milbourne, Birkbeck, University of London

“To those of us who’ve lived, worked and breathed the children’s charity sector for the last decade, this will be an authentic picture of what’s happening and why. To any reader who wants to learn about us, this pretty much covers it all!” Kathy Evans, CEO, Children England

"This book raises fundamental issues in service provision and in how we understand the contemporary world of children’s services. Well-written, and drawing on original data, it provides a cogent and stimulating analysis." Nick Frost, Leeds Beckett University

Alison Body is a Lecturer with the Centre for Philanthropy in the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research at the University of Kent.

Previously, she was a CEO of a leading children’s charity and a lead Commissioning Officer for early intervention services for Kent County Council and has significant experience of working closely with voluntary sector organisations and funders to deliver essential services which achieve maximum impact for children, families and communities.

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